The Earthquake Memorial Park as a Measure of Imparting a Disaster Experience Focus on the Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Plan

Abstract

This study analyzed 27 reconstruction plans of the Great East Japan Earthquake in the coastal areas of Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. Researchers extracted 95 projects to consider the experiences and lessons learned from the damage and recovery process. These were classified into five categories: facility maintenance, archives, education, tourism and interaction, and miscellaneous. The most common type of project was the construction of earthquake memorial parks and green spaces. A literature review was conducted to identify how municipalities take the measure of imparting a disaster experience in earthquake memorial parks in 12 sites. Nine types of measures were identified, such as the preservation of damaged structures, the development of higher ground, the creation of a memorial monument, opening of exhibition facilities, and so on.